ttle into the stance, a chaoti

ed a half-empty iced coffee onto the counte

f Juliette, shielding her. She poi

th your fancy toys?" Phoeb

h look, the dirt-girl needs her mommy. If yo

h and spent 80 hours a week playing firs

re air pistol off

sleeve. "Phoebe, wait. That's a competition pistol. The

"Relax, Jules. I'm a sniper in C

hter. "You think a video game makes you

t Gregory. "Shu

us, exaggerated Hollywood action pose. She squeezed one eye sh

finger, the muzzle fl

a

high, and slammed into the metal protective casing a

rupted into hyst

lean on Sierra. "That is the most

bravado completely shattered. She shuffled back to Juliette, st

lright, playtime is over. Get up th

at her humilia

r evaporated, incinerated

e took three long strides and plan

ds still carried a slight, involunta

tremor. He di

enveloping hers. He effectively blocked out the laughing crow

s large, warm hands cover

lms immediately st

ed, his voice a low, steady ancho

id tension in her spine melted as she le

deliberate slowness, his callouses dragging against her skin

them. "Hugging the gun won

He tilted his head, his nose br

shoulder," he i

sed her eyes. She let the darkness swallow

, the innocent, confused a

led with the terrifying, abso

ft in her aura. A thrill of dark

s. He took a deliberate half-step back,

age wa

ow into a perfect, unshakeable line. She stare